Electric toaster



Aug. 25, 1925.

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed June 26. 1924 F. A. VOLLB RECHT Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES FREDERIGKAL VOLLBRECHT, or WAYNE, MICHIGAN;

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC TOASTER;

Application filed June 26, 1924. Serial No. 722,468.

ment is adapted to the disposal of slices-of bread to be toasted on one or both sides thereof, said bread being supported ,by a platform in a required relation to the heating element and enclosed on the other side by suitable means to prevent the inadvertent displacement of the bread whilst being'toast- 1 ed and also in some cases to effect the conservation of heat about the said bread.

Hitherto in such a device the enclosing means have been adapted to movement from their operative position usually by an outward and downward swing thereof about a pivot at the lower or platform endofthe' same to admit ofaccess tothe bread in, order reversal has been found to be objectionable mainly due to the heated nature of the bread and its proximity to the hot element often causing burning of the fingers or discomfort to the user and being also objectionable to some extent onaccount ofthe amount 0 vhandling required. 1 1

sufficient to allow the bread to slide out wardly thereon, and also means moving the lower edge of the bread in order to bring it substantially beyond the center of gravity thereof, to facilitate said sliding, the tray 1 being operated by-a turning rod atthe lower P end of the tray. In such devices thebread is relieved from allsupport except at the lower edge thereof immediatelythe movement of the tray is commenced so that the bread is liable to fall fromits position in an undesirable manner either defeating the in tended purposei or necessitatingits adjust- 1 The overcoming of such iis well as the provision of an efiiciently operable devlce for the carrying out of the turn- .ingi'of'breadi'n the toaster in thedesired manner. 1

A further object is to provide .for the facility of the initial movement of the bread when turned by efi'ecting its sliding down an acutely inclined planerelative to the tray and its reception thereby in a more moderately. incl ned. or approximately horizontal position ;and still further objects are'for the maintaining of contactbetween said enclosure and the rear surface ofthe bread during a substantial part of the operation of theturning device, andto efi'ect the operation of thisplatform and tray by the depressingof means at the upper end of the said tray; f 1 r Ani portahtobjectof the said invention Histo provideiin ,a toaster of the type re- ',ferred-to anyarrangement of vparts whichmay be operated in a modified manner to permit of the breadbeing swung outwardly wherebyithe face thereof maybe examined to ascertain whether it is sufficiently toasted to warrant being turned by the normal operation of the mechanism. that it may be reversedfor thetoasting of the oppositeside thereof. This method of 11 Still further objects subsidiary to or re-. sultlng from, the aforesaid objects,,or from .the, construction or operation of the invent on as fi, be carried 1I1t0; effect, will become apparent a the said invention is hereinafter further disclosed;

In carrying the said invention into effect IJnay provide in a toaster having an up the upper part being in the form of a rack 'or tray: and thelower part a pivoted platf form having a; marginalportion operably engag1ngsa1d tray ln a closlng d1rect10n, a

spring yieldingly maintaining said member in a raisedorclosed position, and Ya handle adaptedby depression to effectthe lowering of saidtray and-the outward swinging of:

said platform followed-by the, outward iSWinging of the tray, to an open; position, said; platform presenting a surface to-the lower edgel of, the bread in an; acutely in- 1 clined i plane 1 relative to the tray when 'lowered,

. nent; prior to beingbroughtagain into toasting, position. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The; said also to be operatedf outwardly 0f the toaster whereby the lf ewof the bread may r x mine A of which is more particularly describedf'andas-i 1 certained hereinafter, by way .efpexample, having reference to the accompanyingdrawing, where1n: I

ig 1 i a perspective view of a oas e embodying the said invention, and

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section similar parts in the several figures of the drawing.

V 1 is the frame and 2 the heating element of a'toaster of the vertical type, 3 being agrid extending over the element and determining the spacingo-f bread lfrom the said heating element, 'The normal toasting position is indicated onthe right hand side of Figure 2 of the drawing,

Extending acrosseach side ofthe frame and at the-lower end of heating element is arod 5-upon which is pivotally mounted a the scope of the following claims without 'departingfrom the salient features of the platformb forming in its normal or closed "positiona rest for the lower edge of the bread being toasted, and this platform is provided with an upwardly extending outer marginal portion 7 to which is'hingedly connected a tray 8.- The. marginal portion 7 the adjacent edge of the tray 8' overlap so-that the said tray is limited in its outward swinging movement with; respect to the said portion 7,

' "In the normal or operative position'of the tray shown on the right 'hand side of the said Figure the upper edge of the tray *rests against theupper' outenface of the bread land retains it itstoasting position, and this upper part ofthe tray 'is' provided with a handle onleverfi, ressure upon which will efiectthe lowering of-the said tray, whilst stillin contact-withlthe bnead, J to; the position shown in dotted lines in the 45 said figure, the platform being tilted outwardly and downwardly'as shown, against Y the resistance ofa spring 10, carried by the rod 5 and enga ing' the-frame and the underside of thesaid platform. fit is this spring which, in-thisexam'ple, raises and maintains raised the platform trayin their closed positions.

The Stlld tray is then swungiontwardly and downwardly to the osition shown on Zthc left hand side ofthe-saidfigure, the bread first sliding down the marginal portion 7 of the platform 6 as-indicated in'ifull I *lines, and then down on tothe comparatively'horizontal tray 8'; SO lihatfUQPGH the releaseof thesaid tray-and'its returnto the closed position by the action of the' said spring, through the medium of'the platform,

Z "the toast is "returned to the grid 3 in a reverse (position to that which itpmvi'ouslyjoc- 65.. I. x:

which the parts may be returned to their normal position and then operated in the manner described for the turning of the bread if it be necessary or desirable.

- The operation of the tray is thus essentia'lly different to the swinging trays hereintofore' referred to and ensures a ready and dependable reversal of the bread at eac operation without danger of burning the fingers or requiring handhngof bread. Furthermore, at no stage in the operation is the bread in such a position unsupported that it is liable to fall over on its lower edge instead of sliding in the required manner, except when the device is specifically operated for that purpose in the manner explained.

This invention may be developed within said invention and it is desired that the specification and drawing be read as being merely illustrative and not in a limiting sense except as necessitated by the prior art. 1

Vhat I claim is y 'L In a toaster, a frame, a Vertical heating" element therein, an outwardly-swinga'ble platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having-an upwardly extended outor marginal portion, a tray hingedly contosaid marginal portion and mov able thereby to an upright position ad- "jacent the upper part of said element, and a spring yieldingly effecting the raising of said'tray,

QwIn'a toaster,-a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platfonn'm'ounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer -margin'al portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position.

r e'rne toaster, 'aframe, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swing.

able platform'mounted in said frame-at the lower "part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer'marglnal portion,--a tray hinged to said marginal portion-and movable therewith to anoutward; downwardly inclined position,

said platform being swingable independent ofith'eoutwar'd swinging of said tray.

4; 111 a toastera frame, a vertical heat ing element therein, an outwardly swing- ="ablsplatform 'mounted in said frame at the 7 "lowerpart of-saidheating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position, said marginal portion having a greater inclination than said tray when in its lowered position.

5. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heat ing element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended marginal portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position, a spring yieldingly retaining said platform and tray in a raised position.

6. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position, means on said marginal portion limiting the outward swinging of said tray with respect thereto, and a spring yieldingly effecting the raising of said tray through the medium of said platform and said limiting means.

7 In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hingedly connected to said marginal portion and movable thereby to an upright position adjacent the upper part of said element, a spring yield ingly rotating said part in a raised position, and actuating means at the upper end of said tray.

8. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hingedly connected to said marginal portion and movable thereby to an upright position adjacent the upper part of said element, a spring yieldingly rotating said part in a raised position, and actuating means adapted for effecting the operation of said tray by depression.

9. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the low er part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position, and actuating means adapted for effecting the operation of said tray by depression.

10. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended marginal portion, a tray hinged to said marginal portion and movable therewith to an outward downwardly inclined position, a spring yieldingly retaining said platform and tray in a raised position, and means facilitating the swinging of said tray.

11. In a toaster, a frame, a vertical heating element therein, an outwardly swingable platform mounted in said frame at the lower part of said heating element, said platform having an upwardly extended outer marginal portion, a tray hinged to and independently swingable inwardly of said marginal portion.

12. In a device of the class described, a frame, and a bread holder mounted in said frame, said bread holder being hinged to said frame and also divided and hinged intermediate of its length whereby the upper part of said holder is swingable with respect to the lower part thereof.

13. In a device of the class described, a frame, and a bread carrier swingablyv mounted at its lower end in said frame, said carrier being foldable intermediate of its length whereby the lower part of said carrier is swingable either with or independent of the upper part thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERIOIC A. VOLLBRECHT. 

